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Gregg hoping adjusted mechanics pay off

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By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

MILWAUKEE -- Pitching at Miller Park is not the same as pitching at a high school diamond in Corvallis, Ore., which is where Kevin Gregg had been working out after being released by the Dodgers at the end of Spring Training.

Friday was Gregg's first game action since March 30 and his first big league game since last September. He gave up an infield single and then walked Ryan Braun before he was pulled.

"The first guy, I made my pitches, got the ground ball, and we weren't able to get an out on it, and I'm not going to let Braun pile on," Gregg said of his outing. "It was a matter of making [Braun] chase my pitches and deal with Rickie [Weeks] hitting behind him, who hasn't been swinging very well lately."

Gregg is in shape, just not game shape.

"Side sessions are not the same as the game," he said. "It's just getting my feet out there, getting into game situations. I feel good, I felt good yesterday, and it's just a matter of getting in that groove and getting the first-game jitters out of the way. It was exciting to get back out there."

After posting a 4.95 ERA in 40 games with the Orioles last season, Gregg started tweaking his mechanics this offseason. When he arrived in the Dodgers' spring camp, they suggested some changes, which were along the lines of what the right-hander was already doing.

"I started that in the offseason as I was looking for a job, and when I went in and got there, they said, 'Hey, we have some things we want to work on,' and a lot of it was similar to what I had done in the offseason," Gregg said.

The changes were simple, he said, such as being in a better position on the mound and adjusting his hands.

"It was little things that are easy to overlook, but very important," he said.